He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity: But the rebellious dwell in a parched land. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; The earth trembled, the heavens. also dropped rain at the presence of God: Even yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor. The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host. Kings of armies flee, they flee: And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil. Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, at the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, the Lord will dwell in it for Thou hast led thy captivity captive; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell with them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Sinai, in the sanctuary. Thou hast ascended on high, Even the God who is our salvation. God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belong the issues from death. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the skies. O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people: blessed be God. SELECTION 32 THE SIXTEENTH DAY EVENING WORSHIP PSALM 71:1-12, 17-24 IN thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: Let me never be ashamed. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou to me a strong rock, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O LORD God. Thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: My praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge. My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, And with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste to help me. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; Until I have declared thy strength unto the next generation, thy might to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee? us Thou, which hast shewed many and sore troubles, shalt quicken us again, And shalt bring us up again from the depths of the earth. Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: For they are ashamed, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt. SELECTION 33 THE SEVENTEENTH DAY MORNING WORSHIP GIVE the king thy judgments, O God, And thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, And thy poor with justice. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And SO long as the throughout all generations. moon, He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: As showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; And abundance of peace, till the moon be no more. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: All nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; And the poor, that hath no helper. He shall have pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he shall save. He shall redeem their soul from oppression and violence; And precious shall their blood be in his sight, and they shall live; And to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba : And men shall pray for him continually; They shall bless him all the day long. There shall be abundance of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him; of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things: And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. SELECTION 34 THE SEVENTEENTH DAY EVENING WORSHIP PSALM 73:1-26 SURELY God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like oth er men; Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a gar ment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily. They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people are turned after them: And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches. Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency; For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children. When I thought how I might know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end. Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. For my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins: So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. SELECTION 35 THE EIGHTEENTH DAY MORNING WORSHIP I WILL cry unto God with my voice; Even unto God with my voice, and he will give ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; my soul refused to be comforted. I remember God, and am disquieted: I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Thou holdest mine eyes watching: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart; And my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? And I said, This is my infirmity; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will make mention of the deeds of the LORD; For I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also upon all thy work, And muse on thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples. |